Local Realtor, builder Bill Dees, 67, dies after long battle with cancer

Bill Dees, a leading figure in the Wayne County real estate business and an active community supporter, died Sunday after a long illness.

He was 67.

Dees was the founder of Century 21 Dees and Tyndall Realtors and the owner of Cambridge Builders.

He served on the county Planning board from 1986 until 1996.

Hank Roosen, a broker associate with Realty World, worked with Dees for more than two decades. He called Dees a mentor and said Dees was a leader in the local real estate community.

Dees never let fluctuations in the real estate market get him down, Roosen said, but continued to pursue his goals despite any downturns.

"He was a risk-taker, and I admired him. He helped me with my first rental property. He was very driven, very optimistic. He gave me a lot of inspiration," Roosen said.

County Planning Director Connie Price said Dees was a natural leader and innovator.

"He was a good planning board member," Price said of Dees. "He was very supportive of quality growth in the county. He pushed for the updating of the mobile home park ordinance that we have now. He did a lot of his own developments. His company built subdivisions like Colony Square and Colonial Acres."

Price said Dees exemplified good business sense and was committed to helping Wayne County grow in way that would benefit future generations.

"He was a good person. He was good to work with," Price said. "He only had new ideas. He gave everything a lot of thought. He always added his own opinions to whatever we were proposing."

County Commisisoner Atlas Price called Dees an astute businessman and an outstanding public servant.

"We were real pleased with his service. He did a great job for us," Price said. "I thought a lot of Bill Dees. I really did. He was was a fine gentleman."

The funeral service for Bill Dees will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Seymour Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dann Patrick of Faith Free Will Baptist Church officiating.

The family will receive friends Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home and other times at 202 Ridgewood Drive.